Global event: Over 740 scientists to attend 14th EurAsia conference today

Four-day event will feature 150 foreign researchers from 45 countries

KARACHI: One of the largest science conferences in the history of Pakistan will kick off today at the Hussain Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) Research Institute of Chemistry, at Karachi University's (KU) International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), announced Prof Dr Attaur Rahman at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The 14th EurAsia Conference on Chemical Sciences (EuAsC2S-14) will be inaugurated at the HEJ centre with over 740 scientists participating in the conference from all over the world. The conference will end on December 18, 2016.

"The conference includes 150 foreign researchers from 45 countries," said Dr Rahman, adding that it will focus key issues related to chemical sciences, such as nanochemistry, food and drug chemistry, medicinal chemistry and agro chemistry in 33 sessions spread over four days.

"The objective is to provide young scientists a unique opportunity to meet and interact with leaders in their respective fields and learn from their experiences," he said, adding that this conference is expected to help Pakistan in its efforts to attain self-sufficiency in food and drug production.

The international conference series has a tradition of hosting leading chemists, including Nobel Laureates, especially young scientists and scholars from developing countries, to exchange scientific chemical information, accelerate research activities in their countries and forge global partnerships for the common benefit of humanity and rapid development of the countries.

Dr Rahman said that EuAsC2S-7 was held in 2002 in Karachi and it is indeed a pleasure for Pakistan to host the EuAsC2S-14 this year, especially since it is the golden jubilee year of the ICCBS.

Talking about the importance of chemistry, Prof Iqbal Choudhary said that the conference was first held in 1980 and will be held in Italy in 2018.

"Chemistry is the mother of all disciplines," said Prof Choudhary, explaining the importance of chemistry in today's world.

The EuAsC2S-14 programme includes lectures by eminent scientists from around the world, he told the media. There are around 100 sessions and posters by budding researchers will also displayed.

Prof Dr Alan Kreif from Belgium, Prof Gunther Shawarz from Germany, Prof Ionnis Gerothanasis from Greece and Prof Jiri Barek from Czech Republic were also present at the press briefing.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2016.